Mossley 0 Bootle 3

Mossley crashed out of the FA Cup at Seel Park on Saturday with a disappointing performance against the North West Counties Football League leaders. In player-manager Neil Prince, Bootle had the game’s class act. He always seemed to have time on the ball, controlled the midfield area and scored an absolute beauty.

Mossley crashed out of the FA Cup at Seel Park on Saturday with a disappointing performance against the North West Counties Football League leaders.

In player-manager Neil Prince, Bootle had the game’s class act. He always seemed to have time on the ball, controlled the midfield area and scored an absolute beauty.

Mossley had few chances but will rue two efforts that might have produced goals that preceded the visitors netting.

Had either gone in, momentum would have been altered and the result could have been different.

The first was on six minutes when Nathan Taylor ran onto Gavin Salmon’s flick but couldn’t pick an angle from which to shoot.

Within a minute Bootle were ahead when Pearson’s flying save gave them a corner from which Jak Gray scored.

Bootle took control as Mossley played with too much tension but there was hope they might settle as Rowney’s free kick was tipped over the bar.

Again, Bootle took full advantage as, a minute later, they doubled their lead, Prince with a sepcial effort as he placed the ball over Pearson and into the top corner.

With a two-goal cushion, Bootle looked very comfortable, with only half chances for Taylor and Halford before the break.

Mossley’s energy levels were noticeably higher after the break with Mark Haslam’s free kick skimming off Steve Halford’s head when any significant contact would surely have seen his side back in the game.

To add insult to injury, their deficit increased within a minute when Gray was able to jink towards goal too easily and, from a tight angle, scored via the inside of the far post.

While Haslam tested the keeper from distance, there was little Mossley could do to penetrate the Bootle back line.

It took until the 93rd minute for the forward line to get behind the defence, and Porter was off his line early to narrow the angle and deny Salmon.